XYDO.COM: top articles for Foodie http://www.xydo.com Modern society is obsessed with weight: everyone longs to be skinny, and obesity is demonized. But while being overweight does carry with it health risks, a new study suggests that being underweight is far more dangerous than being obese. In fact, the study, carried out at University of California Davis School of Medicine, shows that it is far more dangerous to be assessed as "underweight" than it is to be assessed even as "severely obese". Prof. Anthony Jerant, one of the researchers, explains: "There is currently a widespread belief that any degree of overweight or obesity increases the risk of death, however our findings suggest this may not be the case. In the six-year timeframe of our evaluation, we found that only severe obesity was associated with an increased risk of death." Jerant and his team surveyed almost 51,000 Americans of all ages over a period of six years to gather data for their research. Upon analysis, it transpired that those participants with BMI that determined them "underweight" showed a risk of death twice as high as the "normal" participants. Weirdly, it was considerably safer to be "severely obese" than underweight. Those with a BMI classifying them as such were just 1.26 times as likely to die as "normals". The result, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, in part shows a problem with the BMI measurement. Developed by a Belgian sociologist without medical qualifications, the truth is that Body Mass Index struggles to cope with extremes of height or mass. Validity of the measurement aside, though, the fact remains that—while being obese carries its own risks—a BMI classification of "underweight" is still something you want to avoid. Pass the pizza! [Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine via The Register] Image by Olly/Shutterstock http://gizmodo.com/5924696/being-obese-is-better-than-being-underweight http://gizmodo.com/5924696/being-obese-is-better-than-being-underweight England could spice up its food production by growing more herbs and spices, says a report looking at the nation's future food security. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18771853 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18771853 Farming chickpeas and spices would open up new markets and reduce dependence on imports, a new report saysGrowing ingredients for Indian curries such as chickpeas for roti flour as well as a range of exotic herbs and spices would open up new markets for British farmers and reduce dependence on imports, according to government report into how the agricultural sector can operate more sustainably in future. Growing more curry ingredients domestically could also potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from food imports.By examining the problems facing the UK's food production and countryside through key sectors and foods including curries, breads and dairy products, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is hoping to improve food systems at a time when they are coming under increasing threat. The Green Food Project report says that major changes must be made to agriculture, food processing and retailing, if price rises are to be kept in check and the natural environment preserved.Jim Paice, farming minister, said: "With our increasingly hungry world every country must play its part to produce more food and improve the environment. Britain already punches above its weight, but we're a small island with limited space, so we've got to show leadership and play to our strengths more efficiently."Food is one of the most important sectors of the UK economy, as one of the biggest exporting and manufacturing sectors and a major employer – about one in seven UK jobs depends on the food industry, according to government estimates.As a result of the report, a steering group of government officials, farming representatives and food companies – including retailers, caterers and manufacturers – will be joined by environmentalists and scientists to find ways in which the UK's food sector can use less energy, less water and other natural resources, reduce its environmental impact and become more efficient.The study and steering group looked at the UK's food industry through the prism of a few key foods and regions. They examined wheat and bread, the dairy sector, and looked at curry as a popular dish whose complex ingredients cover several important food groups and issues from food imports to waste management.Some of the changes the group predicted would be needed are likely to be wide-ranging in scope, such as ways of encouraging consumers to waste less of the edible food they buy – currently, as much as a third is thrown away uneaten. But other changes will be at a more detailed level – for instance, more efficient toasters could make a big impact on the energy use associated with bread.The group also looked in detail at three regions: Norfolk, the Lake District and the catchment area of the Tamar river in the south-west.However, although the steering group and the progress made as a result of its efforts will be evaluated regularly on improvements to efficiency, water and energy use, increasing crop yields, using more innovative technology and creating jobs, no targets will be set for such improvements.Paice said: "We're not talking about setting Soviet-style targets but an overall approach in which the whole food chain pulls together. Whether it means embracing new farming technology or people wasting less, we've got to become more sustainable."But he admitted major changes were urgently needed: "There are already many examples of cutting-edge innovations in all sectors, but these are the exception rather than the rule. We are talking about the need for a culture change across the entire food chain and this is the first step in a long-term plan to make that happen."The report found an "unprecedented confluence of pressures", including the world's rapidly growing population – which according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation will mean that 60% more food will be needed globally by 2050; pressures on key resources such as water, energy and land; and the increasing severity of a variety of environmental problems including soil degradation, climate change and threats to biodiversity. "Producing more food through a business as usual approach is not an option," the report found. "We need to do so in a way that does not degrade the environment and as a result compromise the world's capacity to produce food in the future."As well as Defra officials, the members of the steering group include the National Farmers Union, Country Land and Business Association, the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, WWF-UK, the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation.Tom MacMillan, director of innovation at the Soil Association, warned that the government must be held to account on the success or otherwise of the initiative. "The big risk is that this report goes the same way as previous reports and recommendations for greening the food system. They failed because government didn't take the lead that industry and the public need it to, particularly on the tough but crucial issue of sustainable consumption," he said. "This report is weak when it comes to the key challenge of making it easy to eat a diet that doesn't seriously damage our own health and that of the planet."Mark Driscoll of WWF-UK said: "Success will be measured by actions that lead to clear and measurable outcomes and actions – for example, reversing the declines in biodiversity in the UK, through monitoring of such things as the farmland bird and butterfly indices. Also, improvements in water quality in our rivers, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from food production, and a healthy and vibrant farming community where producers are rewarded for environmental stewardship."But in contrast to the government's determination not to set targets for improvements, Driscoll said they were needed. "The next steps of this project are crucial if we are to move from some great words to action. We therefore need to look at key milestones and targets for the project under each of the recommendations – you can't measure success or project progress unless this happens."FoodFood & drinkFarmingSustainable developmentFiona Harveyguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/10/curry-ingredients-sustainability http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/10/curry-ingredients-sustainability Name: Unbucket Quick Pitch: Unbuckle is an online platform for life lists. Users can plan and document all intended activities. Genius Idea: Users can make a list of short-term and long-term goals. Shared lists between friends and family can be private or public. Invited members of lists can check off items when completed. Often, careful planning helps us get the most out of an experience. Unbucket is an online planning tool helping users get the most out of life. Users should utilize Unbucket to accomplish daily goals and more meaningful endeavors over a lifetime, the founders say. Unbucket is here to track your intentions. It's great for the small lists, such as keeping t… Continue reading... More About: bizspark, Food, lifestyle, travel http://mashable.com/2012/07/09/unbucket-startup/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 http://mashable.com/2012/07/09/unbucket-startup/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 A kayaker is counting his lucky stars after a close encounter with a great white shark at a US holiday spot. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18778414 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18778414 We've seen a website made of bacon, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that someone has now come up with an edible QR Code. As this video demonstrates, the minds at Taco Bell have spawned a QR code made of lemons and avocados. The effort is for Taco Bell's new Cantina Bell menu, which includes gourmet-ish items from chef Lorena Garcia. The codes are running in print ads in US Weekly and People. As one YouTube wag notes, the chain is "really thinking outside the guacs." [Via Adweek ] More About: Advertising, Marketing, QR Codes, taco bell http://mashable.com/2012/07/09/taco-belledible-qr-codes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 http://mashable.com/2012/07/09/taco-belledible-qr-codes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 Upgrade to the latest Flash Player for improved playback performance. Upgrade now or more info http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu7kBdECu84&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu7kBdECu84&feature=player_embedded The U.S. Department of Agriculture has doled out millions of dollars in subsidies to farms on which farming isn’t actually taking place, according a new report from government watchdogs. Billions more have gone towards supporting farms that don’t grow the crops for which they’re being subsidized. USDA gave nearly $3 million last year to 2,327 farms that had not grown any crops since 2006, according to the report, released last week by the Government Accountability Office. Of those farms, 622 had not grown any crops since 2001. According to GAO’s analysis, about 2,300 farms, or about 0.15 percent of the 1.6 million farms receiving direct payments in 2011, reported all their land as “fallow,” that is, producers did not plant any crops of any type on this land, for each year of the last 5 years (i.e., 2007 through 2011), as allowed under the farm bill. These producers received a total of about $2.9 million in direct payments in 2011… In addition, according to our analysis of USDA data, 622 farms reported all of their farm’s acreage as fallow for each of the previous 10 years, from 2002 through 2011. While some farms were receiving subsidies without actually growing crops, others got billions even though they didn’t grow the crops for which they were being subsidized, GAO reports: Cumulatively, USDA paid $10.6 billion—almost one-fourth of total direct payments from 2003 through 2011—to producers who did not, in a given year, plant any of the crop for which they had base acres. Specifically, during this period, producers cumulatively did not plant more than 633 million acres with the crops associated with their base acres in a given year. This amounted to an average of 70 million acres each year, or 26 percent of the 268 million base acres on average that are annually eligible for direct payments. GAO concludes with a simple policy prescription: “In light of the need to identify potential savings in the federal budget and questions about the continued need for direct payments, Congress should consider eliminating or reducing [direct subsidy] payments.” In fact, both the House and Senate versions of the legislation contain provisions that would eliminate these direct payments in favor of expanded crop insurance subsidies. GAO also recommends enhanced screening techniques to weed out non-farm land from USDA’s subsidy programs. The agency accepted some of those recommendations, but rejected a proposal to gather a more representative and comprehensive sample of farms that benefit from federal subsidies to confirm that those farms are still in operation. http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/09/usda-gives-millions-to-farmers-who-arent-actually-farming/ http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/09/usda-gives-millions-to-farmers-who-arent-actually-farming/ Breaking news and analysis from TIME.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science and entertainment news. Archive of TIME magazine since 1923. http://www.time.com/time/ http://www.time.com/time/ Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:Obama to call for one-year extension of some Bush-era tax rates — President Obama will call for a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax rates for people who earn less than $250,000 per year. — Obama will make the announcement at an event in the East Room on Monday, the White House confirmed to The Hill. http://www.memeorandum.com/120709/p14 http://www.memeorandum.com/120709/p14 [Photos: Nigella Lawson / Facebook, Anthony Bourdain / Facebook] Details are in on the mysterious upcoming Nigella Lawson/Anthony Bourdain cooking competition show: ABC has picked up eight episodes of the show, which will be called The Taste. It will be an elimination-based competition show featuring both amateur and professional cooks. Four "culinary experts" will mentor teams, selected "based on their dishes alone." So a blind taste test? Each episode will feature a team challenge and an individual challenge, after which the mentors must agree on who goes home. The mentors have not yet been announced, and it's unclear whether the "famed foodies" Bourdain and Lawson will be considered mentors or will just host the show. Back when the first details were released about the show, Bourdain told Eater, "I'm particularly looking forward to working with Nigella--who's a friend from way back." Bourdain recently announced he was leaving The Travel Channel and is also preparing a weekend travel show for CNN. Here's a press release; no word on the premiere date of The Taste. Munich, July 9, 2012. It’s all about the taste! U.S. network ABC has ordered eight episodes of “The Taste”, America's hot new cooking show. Famed foodies Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain head a distinct panel of four judges in this unique cooking competition pitting America’s most skilled cooks against one another. “The Taste” was created and produced by Kinetic Content, Red Arrow's US production company led by Chris Coelen. Caroline Kusser, Director North America of SevenOne International, says, “Anthony Bourdain’s trademark of holding nothing back coupled with Nigella Lawson’s extensive culinary experience create a strong backbone for a completely innovative cooking competition. We are thrilled about ABC’s pick-up and look forward to capitalizing on this success with a series of strong international partnerships.” The Taste For the first time ever Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson are teaming up to get down to what truly matters, the way the food tastes! Our culinary superstars are going back to basics: the taste! Both home cooks and restaurateurs are given the opportunity of a lifetime, as they sharpen their skills and train with the best culinary experts in the business. Our superstar mentors will each coach a team of cooks, who they hand pick based on their dishes alone. In each episode there are two challenges; a team challenge and an individual challenge. At the end of each show the mentors must decide together who to eliminate. · ABC Picks Up the Taste [Press Release] · All Nigella Lawson Coverage on Eater [-E-] · All Anthony Bourdain Coverage on Eater [-E-] http://eater.com/archives/2012/07/09/the-taste-bourdain-and-nigellas-show-gets-a-name.php http://eater.com/archives/2012/07/09/the-taste-bourdain-and-nigellas-show-gets-a-name.php ©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. http://www.about.com/ http://www.about.com/ We love featuring the best interactive vending machines from around the world here on the blog, but this could easily be the best one yet. It comes from Australia and it gets people completing tasks to get their free sampling product. It will put a huge smile on your face http://www.simplyzesty.com/advertising-and-marketing/brilliant-vending-machine-makes-customers-dance-for-their-food/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SimplyZesty+%28Simply+Zesty%29 http://www.simplyzesty.com/advertising-and-marketing/brilliant-vending-machine-makes-customers-dance-for-their-food/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SimplyZesty+%28Simply+Zesty%29 How to pack the perfect geeky picnic Seasonal soups to reheat throughout the week Simple ways to go green and save Video: A total body workout in 10 minutes Brighten up your Summer with Jessica Alba's hot pink flats A mascara you must try Famous women open up about divorce Ideas for a mermaid birthday party Before and after: a found dresser gets a fantastic face-lift Three ways to wear one stylish dress Roles that made us adore Tom Hanks Ten ways to work off an ice cream cone Blake Lively goes boating in a bikini with shirtless Ryan Reynolds http://www.lilsugar.com/Sugar-Shout-Out-July-8-2012-23899854?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lilsugar+%28lilsugar%29 http://www.lilsugar.com/Sugar-Shout-Out-July-8-2012-23899854?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lilsugar+%28lilsugar%29 Kathryn Colasanti: Eating locally benefits health, economyLansing State JournalIs local food just a passing trend? An elitist fad that's out of reach for most of us? As trendy as it may be, eating local food represents critical opportunities for all of us, opportunities that are here to stay. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/needlogin?type=login&redirecturl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lansingstatejournal.com%2Farticle%2F20120708%2FOPINION04%2F307080099%2FKathryn-Colasanti-Eating-locally-benefits-health-economy%3Fodyssey%3Dmod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CFRONTPAGE%257Cs%26nclick_check%3D1 http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/needlogin?type=login&redirecturl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lansingstatejournal.com%2Farticle%2F20120708%2FOPINION04%2F307080099%2FKathryn-Colasanti-Eating-locally-benefits-health-economy%3Fodyssey%3Dmod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CFRONTPAGE%257Cs%26nclick_check%3D1 “When it comes to coral reefs, prevention is better than cure." Image: skynesher/iStockphoto With coral reefs around the world in rapid decline, it is imperative we make every effort to save the rest, say the world’s most top marine researchers, who are gathered this week in Australia for the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium.In an unprecedented move, more than 2000 of the world’s top marine researchers released today in Cairns, Australia, their Consensus Statement on Climate Change and Coral Reefs. It calls for a worldwide effort to overcome growing threats to coral ecosystems and to the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them. In particular it urges measures to head off the escalating damage caused by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, overfishing and pollution from the land. See: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/icrs2012/Consensus_Statement.htmProfessor Terry Hughes, Convener of the Symposium and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies says “When it comes to coral reefs, prevention is better than cure. If we look after the Great Barrier Reef better than we do now, it will continue to support a vibrant tourism industry into the future” he said.“Unfortunately, in Queensland, the rush to get as much fossil fuel out of the ground as quickly as possible before the transition to alternative sources of energy occurs, has pushed environmental concerns far into the background.“Australia needs to improve governance of the Great Barrier Reef, particularly coastal development and runoff, to avoid it being inscribed by UNESCO on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.“While there has been much progress in establishing marine reserves around the coastline of Australia, marine parks do not prevent pollution from the land, or lessen the impact of shipping and port developments, or reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses,” he says.“There is a window of opportunity for the world to act on climate change – but it is closing rapidly,” he said. Meantime, there are plenty of positive local actions that can also be taken, such as: Rebuild fish stocks to restore key ecosystem functions Reduce runoff and pollutants from the land Reduce destruction of mangrove, seagrass and coral reef habitats Protect key ecosystems by establishing marine protected areas Rebuild populations of megafauna such as dugongs and turtles Promote reef tourism and sustainable fishing rather than destructive industries Use aquaculture, without increasing pollution and runoff, to reduce pressure on wild stocks. Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here. http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20120807-23541.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencealert-latestnews+%28ScienceAlert-Latest+Stories%29 http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20120807-23541.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencealert-latestnews+%28ScienceAlert-Latest+Stories%29 It's finally time to reveal the winners of our limerick contest in honor of La Quercia's Ham Independence Day. Thank you to everyone who entered a limerick; it was really a tough call (really). The three winners have been contacted and will be receiving plenty of piggy prize in the mail. Now, ahem, time to read the winning limericks! There was once a sweet piggy from Spain Whose life was unbearably plain. With fire in his loins, He left for Des Moines, And now he's in quiche Lorraine —deanadoll There once was a girl from Manhattan Her love for ham caused her to fatten She dined out every week Ate the pig, tail to cheek Now her doctor has put her on statins —drinkyourmilkshake My life was quite abyssmal, Til I met the pork artisanal, My body a wreck, was cured by the Speck, And the Lardo was also medicinal. —bartnlisa http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/07/congrats-to-our-ham-independence-day-limerick.html http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/07/congrats-to-our-ham-independence-day-limerick.html Mitt Romney stops in the Hamptons, N.Y. on Sunday to host three fundraisers, which are expected to raise $3 million http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57468273-503544/romney-hosts-three-fundraisers-in-the-hamptons/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+%28Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com%29 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57468273-503544/romney-hosts-three-fundraisers-in-the-hamptons/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+%28Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com%29 Civil rights groups have condemned state's voter ID law as discriminatory against minorities and those without licencesTexas will launch a challenge to a central piece of civil rights legislation in a Washington court on Monday in a case the Obama administration has characterised as a fight to protect the right to vote.The five-day hearing will rule on whether the US justice department has the power to block Texas from implementing a state law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls – a move critics say will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people, principally Latinos and other minorities.The decision by a federal court is likely to have a bearing on a flood of similar legislation in other states over recent years although the issue is expected to end up before the supreme court.The Obama administration blocked the Texas legislation using a clause in the 1965 Voting Rights Act which requires 16 states with a history of discriminatory laws and practices to clear all or some changes in voting laws and constituency boundaries with the justice department.The Texas attorney-general, Greg Abbott, argues that the Voting Rights Act does not apply because the state is simply enforcing anti-fraud measures in order to "protect the integrity of the vote".But civil rights groups say the voter ID law discriminates against minorities, and to a lesser extent the young and the old, who are less likely to hold driving licences, the primary means of identification issued by Texas state authorities.They say the move, passed by a Republican-controlled state legislature with the support of the governor, Rick Perry, is intended to discourage black and Latino voters who are more likely to support the Democratic party. Critics note that the law recognises gun permits as a legitimate form of identification but not student cards issued by the state.The justice department estimates that there are 600,000 people registered to vote in Texas whose names are not on driving licence or state identification databases.The US supreme court in 2008 upheld the right of states to require voters to produce identification but that case, involving Indiana, did not touch on the voting rights act. Since then, 15 other states have passed laws requiring voters to show photo identification, although some of them offer alternatives.The justice department has also blocked the implementation of voter ID laws in South Carolina and is expected to do so in Mississippi and Florida – all states subject to the approval requirements of the Voting Rights Act.Similar legal battles are being fought over attempts by some states to redraw constituency boundaries without justice department approval.The attorney-general, Eric Holder, on Saturday told a national Latino conference that the justice department is attempting to protect voting rights in the face of discriminatory laws."We'll do everything in our power to stand vigilant against any and all measures that threaten to undermine the effectiveness and integrity of our elections systems and to infringe on the single most important right of American citizenship: the right to vote," he said.The Obama administration is suing Florida, which delivered up the decisive but heavily disputed victory for George Bush in the 2000 presidential election, over its attempts to purge the voter roll of people the state claims may not be American citizens.Critics have described the move as "voter suppression" by the state's Republican administration aimed at stripping the ballot from people more likely to support Democrats.Federal officials say that the state is obliged to get justice department approval for the move under the Voting Rights Act.The flood of new voting laws is a central focus of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People conference in Houston, Texas this week where the organisation's leaders say that voter ID legislation and challenges to the Voting Rights Act amount to a fresh assault on civil rights legislation."The effort to suppress the vote is not a new thing," said Leon Russell, vice-chairman of the NAACP board. "What we've seen in the last two years, though, is the most egregious effort to compound and collect every single method that anybody could think of that would discourage a person to vote and put it in a piece of legislation and inflict it on our community."Critics say there is little evidence of comprehensive identity fraud in US elections. A draft of a 2007 report by the federally run Election Assistance Commission found that "there is widespread but not unanimous agreement (among experts) that there is little polling place fraud".However, its conclusion was changed before the report was released by the Bush administration to say that there is a "great deal of debate" on the issue.Abbott said Texas has convicted 50 people for voter fraud over the past decade.Texas may face a struggle to win its case.In May, Alabama challenged the validity of the voting rights act over a justice department block on the redrawing of constituency boundaries.A US appeals court judge, David Tatel, said in rejecting Alabama's case that the implementation of the Voting Rights Act is legitimate because it is intended to stop racially motivated disenfranchisement which he called "one of the greatest evils".Tatel is sitting on the bench hearing the Texas case this week.TexasObama administrationUnited StatesUS politicsEric HolderUS elections 2012Chris McGrealguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/08/texas-voting-rights-justice-department http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/08/texas-voting-rights-justice-department Civil rights groups have condemned state's voter ID law as discriminatory against minorities and those without licencesTexas will launch a challenge to a central piece of civil rights legislation in a Washington court on Monday in a case the Obama administration has characterised as a fight to protect the right to vote.The five-day hearing will rule on whether the US justice department has the power to block Texas from implementing a state law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls – a move critics say will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people, principally Latinos and other minorities.The decision by a federal court is likely to have a bearing on a flood of similar legislation in other states over recent years although the issue is expected to end up before the supreme court.The Obama administration blocked the Texas legislation using a clause in the 1965 Voting Rights Act which requires 16 states with a history of discriminatory laws and practices to clear all or some changes in voting laws and constituency boundaries with the justice department.The Texas attorney-general, Greg Abbott, argues that the Voting Rights Act does not apply because the state is simply enforcing anti-fraud measures in order to "protect the integrity of the vote".But civil rights groups say the voter ID law discriminates against minorities, and to a lesser extent the young and the old, who are less likely to hold driving licences, the primary means of identification issued by Texas state authorities.They say the move, passed by a Republican-controlled state legislature with the support of the governor, Rick Perry, is intended to discourage black and Latino voters who are more likely to support the Democratic party. Critics note that the law recognises gun permits as a legitimate form of identification but not student cards issued by the state.The justice department estimates that there are 600,000 people registered to vote in Texas whose names are not on driving licence or state identification databases.The US supreme court in 2008 upheld the right of states to require voters to produce identification but that case, involving Indiana, did not touch on the voting rights act. Since then, 15 other states have passed laws requiring voters to show photo identification, although some of them offer alternatives.The justice department has also blocked the implementation of voter ID laws in South Carolina and is expected to do so in Mississippi and Florida – all states subject to the approval requirements of the Voting Rights Act.Similar legal battles are being fought over attempts by some states to redraw constituency boundaries without justice department approval.The attorney-general, Eric Holder, on Saturday told a national Latino conference that the justice department is attempting to protect voting rights in the face of discriminatory laws."We'll do everything in our power to stand vigilant against any and all measures that threaten to undermine the effectiveness and integrity of our elections systems and to infringe on the single most important right of American citizenship: the right to vote," he said.The Obama administration is suing Florida, which delivered up the decisive but heavily disputed victory for George Bush in the 2000 presidential election, over its attempts to purge the voter roll of people the state claims may not be American citizens.Critics have described the move as "voter suppression" by the state's Republican administration aimed at stripping the ballot from people more likely to support Democrats.Federal officials say that the state is obliged to get justice department approval for the move under the Voting Rights Act.The flood of new voting laws is a central focus of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People conference in Houston, Texas this week where the organisation's leaders say that voter ID legislation and challenges to the Voting Rights Act amount to a fresh assault on civil rights legislation."The effort to suppress the vote is not a new thing," said Leon Russell, vice-chairman of the NAACP board. "What we've seen in the last two years, though, is the most egregious effort to compound and collect every single method that anybody could think of that would discourage a person to vote and put it in a piece of legislation and inflict it on our community."Critics say there is little evidence of comprehensive identity fraud in US elections. A draft of a 2007 report by the federally run Election Assistance Commission found that "there is widespread but not unanimous agreement (among experts) that there is little polling place fraud".However, its conclusion was changed before the report was released by the Bush administration to say that there is a "great deal of debate" on the issue.Abbott said Texas has convicted 50 people for voter fraud over the past decade.Texas may face a struggle to win its case.In May, Alabama challenged the validity of the voting rights act over a justice department block on the redrawing of constituency boundaries.A US appeals court judge, David Tatel, said in rejecting Alabama's case that the implementation of the Voting Rights Act is legitimate because it is intended to stop racially motivated disenfranchisement which he called "one of the greatest evils".Tatel is sitting on the bench hearing the Texas case this week.TexasObama administrationUnited StatesUS politicsEric HolderUS elections 2012Chris McGrealguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/08/texas-voting-rights-justice-department http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/08/texas-voting-rights-justice-department You may think you're eating Cheetos and Lunchables but what you're really eating is spray-painted styrofoam peanuts and your mom giving up on you. And they should be called that! Smosh hilariously renamed all your favorite junk food to something much more accurate. More » http://gizmodo.com/5924242/what-junk-food-should-actually-be-called http://gizmodo.com/5924242/what-junk-food-should-actually-be-called Congressman Jack Kingston, Georgia, Chairman of the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee poses questions before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Kingston was voted "legislator of the year for 2011-2012" by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, whose members include Monsanto and DuPont. (Photo: Bob Nichols / USDAgov)While many Americans were firing up barbecues and breaking out the sparklers to celebrate Independence Day, biotech industry executives were more likely chilling champagne to celebrate another kind of independence: immunity from federal law. A so-called "Monsanto rider," quietly slipped into the multi-billion dollar FY 2013 Agricultural Appropriations bill, would require – not just allow, but require - the Secretary of Agriculture to grant a temporary permit for the planting or cultivation of a genetically engineered crop, even if a federal court has ordered the planting be halted until an Environmental Impact Statement is completed. All the farmer or the biotech producer has to do is ask, and the questionable crops could be released into the environment where they could potentially contaminate conventional or organic crops and, ultimately, the nation's food supply. Unless the Senate or a citizen's army of farmers and consumers can stop them, the House of Representatives is likely to ram this dangerous rider through any day now. In a statement issued last month, the Center For Food Safety hadthis to say about the biotech industry's latest attempt to circumvent legal and regulatory safeguards: In other words, if this single line in the 90-page Agricultural Appropriations bill slips through, it's Independence Day for the biotech industry. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has sponsored an amendment to kill the rider, whose official name is "the farmers assurance" provision. But even if DeFazio's amendment makes it through the House vote, it still has to survive the Senate. Meanwhile, organizations like theOrganic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety, FoodDemocracyNow!, the Alliance for Natural Health USA and many others are gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures in protest of the rider, and in support of DeFazio's amendment. Will Congress do the right thing and keep what are arguably already-weak safeguards in place, to protect farmers and the environment? Or will industry win yet another fight in the battle to exert total control over our farms and food supply? Biotech's 'Legislator of the Year' behind the latest sneak attack Whom do we have to thank for this sneak attack on USDA safeguards? The agricultural sub-committee chair Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) – who not coincidentally was voted "legislator of the year for 2011-2012" by none other than the Biotechnology Industry Organization, whose members include Monsanto and DuPont. As reported by Mother Jones, the Biotechnology Industry Organization declared Kingston a "champion of America's biotechnology industry" who has "helped to protect funding for programs essential to the survival of biotechnology companies across the United States." Kingston clearly isn't interested in the survival of America's farmers. Aiding and abetting Kingston is John C. Greenwood, former US Congressman from Pennsylvania and now president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. No stranger to the inner workings of Congress, Greenwood lobbied for the "farmers assurance provision" in a June 13 letter to Congress, according to Mother Jones and Bloomberg, claiming that "a stream of lawsuits" have slowed approvals and "created uncertainties" for companies developing GE crops. Greenwood was no doubt referring to several past lawsuits, including one brought in 2007 by the Center for Food safety challenging the legality of the USDA's approval of Monsanto's Roundup Ready alfalfa. In that case, a federal court ruled that the USDA's approval of GMO alfalfa violated environmental laws by failing to analyze risks such as the contamination of conventional and organic alfalfa, the evolution of glyphosate-resistant weeds, and increased use of Roundup. The USDA was forced to undertake a four-year study of GMO alfalfa's impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). During the four-year study, farmers were banned from planting or selling the crop – creating that 'uncertainty" that Greenwood is so worried about. The USDA study slowed down the release of GMO alfalfa, but ultimately couldn't stop it. As Mother Jones reports, in 2011, the USDA deregulated the crop, even though according to its own study, the USDA said that "gene flow" between GM and non-GM alfalfa is "probable," and threatens organic dairy producers and other users of non-GMO alfalfa, and that there is strong potential for the creation of Roundup-resistant "superweeds" that require ever-higher doses of Roundup and application of ever-more toxic herbicides. The report noted that two million acres of US farmland already harbor Roundup-resistant weeds caused by other Roundup Ready crops. In another case – which perhaps paved the way for this latest provision now before the House - the USDA in 2011 outright defied a federal judge's order to halt the planting of Monsanto's controversial Roundup-Ready GMO sugar beets until it completed an Environmental Impact Statement. The USDA allowed farmers to continue planting the crop even while it was being assessed for safety on the grounds that there were no longer enough non-GMO seeds available to plant. Who loses if Monsanto wins this one? Among the biggest losers if Congress ignores the DeFazio amendment and passes the "farmers assurance provision" are thousands of farmers of conventional and organic crops, including those who rely on the export market for their livelihoods. An increasing number of global markets are requiring GMO-free agricultural products or, at the very least, enforcing strict GMO labeling laws. If this provision passes, it will allow unrestricted planting of potentially dangerous crops, exposing other safe and non-GMO crops to risk of contamination. As we've seen in the past, farmers who grow crops that have been inadequately tested and later found dangerous, or whose safe crops become contaminated by nearby unsafe crops, risk huge losses and potentially, lawsuits from their customers. Ultimately, the entire US agriculture market and US economy suffers. We have only to look back to the StarLink corn and LibertyLink rice contamination episodes for evidence of how misguided this provision is. In October 2000, traces of an Aventis GM corn called StarLink showed up in taco shells in the U.S. even though the corn had not been approved for human consumption because leading allergists were concerned it would cause food allergies. The contamination led to a massive billion dollar recall of over 300 food brands. The 'StarLink' gene also turned up unexpectedly in a second company's corn and in US corn exports, causing a costly disruption to the nation's grain-handling system, and spurring lawsuits by farmers whose crops were damaged. A similar disaster occurred for US rice farmers in 2006. In august of that year the USDA announced that mutant DNA of Liberty Link, a genetically modified variety of rice developed by Bayer CropScience, a then-German agri-business giant, were found in commercially-grown long-grain rice in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Missouri. LibertyLink rice, named for Bayer's broad-spectrum herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, was never intended for human consumption. Following the announcement of contamination, Japan banned all long-grain rice imports from the U.S., and U.S. trade with the EU and other countries ground to a halt. Rice farmers and cooperatives were forced to engage in five long years of litigation against Bayer CropScience in an attempt to recoup some of their losses. All the other ways this provision is just plain bad There's a reason we have laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Plant Protection Act of 2000, which was specifically designed "to strengthen the safety net for agricultural producers by providing greater access to more affordable risk management tools and improved protection from production and income loss . . .". The 'farmers assurance provision" is a thinly disguised attempt by the biotech industry to undermine these protections. Worse yet, it's an affront to everyone who believes the US judicial system exists to protect US citizens and public health. Why should you be outraged about this provision? For all these reasons: · The Monsanto Rider is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. Judicial review is an essential element of U.S. law, providing a critical and impartial check on government decisions that may negatively impact human health, the environment or livelihoods. Maintaining the clear-cut boundary of a Constitutionally-guaranteed separation of powers is essential to our government. This provision will blur that line. · Judicial review is a gateway, not a roadblock. Congress should be fully supportive of our nation's independent judiciary. The ability of courts to review, evaluate and judge an issue that impacts public and environmental health is a strength, not a weakness, of our system. The loss of this fundamental safeguard could leave public health, the environment and livelihoods at risk. · It removes the "legal brakes" that prevent fraud and abuse. In recent years, federal courts have ruled that several USDA GE crop approvals violated the law and required further study of their health and environmental impact. These judgments indicated that continued planting would cause harm to the environment and/or farmers and ordered interim planting restrictions pending further USDA analysis and consideration. The Monsanto rider would prevent a federal court from putting in place court-ordered restrictions, even if the approval were fraudulent or involved bribery. · It's unnecessary and duplicative. Every court dealing with these issues is supposed to carefully weigh the interests of all affected farmers and consumers, as is already required by law. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed as a result. USDA already has working mechanisms in place to allow partial approvals, and the Department has used them, making this provision completely unnecessary. · It shuts out the USDA. The rider would not merely allow, it would compel the Secretary of Agriculture to immediately grant any requests for permits to allow continued planting and commercialization of an unlawfully approved GE crop. With this provision in place, USDA may not be able to prevent costly contamination episodes like Starlink or Liberty Link rice, which have already cost farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The rider would also make a mockery of USDA's legally mandated review, transforming it into a 'rubber stamp' approval process. · It's a back-door amendment of a statute. This rider, quietly tacked onto an appropriations bill, is in effect a substantial amendment to USDA's governing statute for GE crops, the Plant Protection Act. If Congress feels the law needs to be changed, it should be done in a transparent manner by holding hearings, soliciting expert testimony and including full opportunity for public debate. If we allow this "Monsanto Rider" to be slipped into the FY 2013 Agricultural Appropriations bill, consumers and farmers will lose what little control we have now over what we plant and what we eat. If you would like to join the hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens who have already written to Congress in support of the DeFazio amendment, please sign our petition here. http://truth-out.org/news/item/10210-the-monsanto-rider-are-biotech-companies-about-to-gain-immunity-from-federal-law http://truth-out.org/news/item/10210-the-monsanto-rider-are-biotech-companies-about-to-gain-immunity-from-federal-law Just look at it. Contest entry - Pie http://boingboing.net/2012/07/08/just-look-at-this-banana-cream.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/08/just-look-at-this-banana-cream.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29 The review found that corporate donations -- many of them previously unreported -- went to groups large and small, dedicated to shaping public policy on the state and national levels. From a redistricting fight in Minnesota to the sprawling battleground of the 2012 presidential and Congressional elections, corporations are opening their wallets and altering the political world.Read More...More on Politics http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/08/groups-shield-political_n_1656999.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/08/groups-shield-political_n_1656999.html Pine nuts are small oblong seeds from the pine tree. The two main varieties are pignolia which is Mediterranean and torpedo-shaped and the Chinese nuts which are squat and triangle-shaped. The pine cones that contain the nuts must be collected from the tree or forest floor. The cones are then heated, which opens up their scales and loosens the nuts. The nuts are often lightly roasted to improve their flavour. Pignolia nuts may be eaten raw or roasted. They are frequently added to meat, fish, salads and vegetable dishes or baked in bread. Chinese pine nuts are used extensively as they are easily available and not very expensive. These nuts are pungent and have a distinct flavour. The high caloric content of pines comes from their fats. However, the nuts are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid that helps lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol” in the blood. Research studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, helps prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favouring a healthy blood lipid profile. The vitamin D in pine nuts strengthens bones and teeth, by improving the body's ability to absorb calcium, and vitamins A and C may sharpen vision and boost the immune system. Pine nuts are an excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and folates. Besides, they contain essential minerals such as manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Method: Toast the breadcrumbs to dry in a frying pan. Use a pestle to grind the pine nut, mint, garlic and lemon zest together with a dash of extra virgin olive oil to make crumbs. Add the chilli into the picada; then stir in the breadcrumbs and add the extra virgin olive oil to bind. Add a little lemon juice to sharpen the flavour and set picada aside until ready to serve. Heat butter in a small pan, add garlic and the drained anchovies. Saute for a while. Season the mixture with lots of freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt, then stir in the crème fraîche. Simmer gently for a few minutes to reduce to a creamy sauce. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil, cook the linguine until al dente, and then drain. Return to the hot pan and stir the anchovy sauce through the pasta. Add a generous sprinkling of picada. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3613394.ece http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3613394.ece Sitting down for a proper afternoon tea was a must-do on my first trip to London. While I was trying to decide between tea at The Ritz or Claridge’s, my friend and former London resident Simon stepped in and insisted on Brown’s Hotel, which was voted “Top London Afternoon Tea” by The Tea Guild a http://gastronomyblog.com/2012/07/08/afternoon-tea-browns-hotel/ http://gastronomyblog.com/2012/07/08/afternoon-tea-browns-hotel/ Hi friends, I was slow pulling this one together (apologies!), hopefully you'll find it worth the wait. There are some real gems down below, and some must-reads/watch links. xo -h - Herb-infused clara con limón - Wilder Quarterly - Dream listing - To Watch: The Upsetter - Boon Boxes - The Baker in the Rye - G + D + S: Fly Better Tips - The Herriott Grace film - Just the right amount of scary for a 3 1/2 year old. - A recipe is not always the place to begin. - To make. (via hizKNITS) - Especially the coyote. - Secrets of Great Chefs - Inappropriate Test Responses - The first image. - Samin's Exuberant Berkeley Kitchen - Sidewalk chalk paint - Dip-dyed Canvas - Reinventing The Egg Cream (thx Kami!) - Zoo Crew Lead photo: A snapshot taken in my kitchen with one of my old Polaroids. Continue reading Favorites List (7.6.12) http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/favorites-list-7612-recipe.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+101Cookbooks+%28101+Cookbooks%29 http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/favorites-list-7612-recipe.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+101Cookbooks+%28101+Cookbooks%29 BRIDGETON, NJ(CBSNewYork) – A New Jersey company has issued a recall of a variety of frozen meat and poultry products due to concerns over a possible Listeria contamination. Buona Vita is recalling Cupino, Mama Isabella, Buona Vita, Dirusso, Silver Lake, Argenta Pride, Whitsons, M& R Frosted Food, Ofresco, Bullpen, Napoli, Buonamici, Whorle, and Monabella frozen meatballs. The problem was discovered during microbiological testing, no illnesses have been reported yet. Information regarding the retail distribution of potentially infected packages can be found at the Food Safety And Inspection Services website. Leave your thoughts in our comments section below… Filed under: Business, Consumer, Consumer News, Health, Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, News, NJ News, Syndication, Watch + Listen Tagged: Argenta Pride, Bullpen, Buonamici, Cupino, Dirusso, M&R Frosted Food, Mama Isabella, Meatballs, Monabella, Napoli, Ofresco, Silver Lake, Whitsons, Whorle http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/07/07/frozen-meatballs-recalled-due-to-listeria-concerns/ http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/07/07/frozen-meatballs-recalled-due-to-listeria-concerns/ Gather in the kitchen to learn about healthy eating and the importance of family mealtime! Prepare and share meals together at Cooking Matters for Families, a free six-week cooking and nutrition series for school-age children and families being offered at The Upper Room in Derry on six consecutive Wednesdays, July 11 through August 15, from 10 AM to 12 PM. The series will be led by Terri Schoppmeyer, Educational Program Coordinator at UNH Cooperative Extension. Cooking Matters for Families is sponsored by Operation Frontline, the New Hampshire Food Bank, UNH Cooperative Extension, Nutrition Connections, and The Upper Room. If you qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, free and reduced lunch, WIC, or other types of financial assistance, then you qualify for participation in this free program. To register, contact Sue Schick at The Upper Room, (603) 437-8477 extension 22. On-site childcare will be provided for a maximum of 5 children (ages 0-4) with a $1 per class, per child fee. UNH Cooperative Extension provides New Hampshire citizens with research-based education and information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and communities, sustain natural resources, and improve the economy. For more information, or to learn about educational programs in Rockingham County, call (603) 679-5616 or visit their website. http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/07/local-organization-hosts-free-cooking-and-nutrition-course/52300 http://www.londonderrynh.net/2012/07/local-organization-hosts-free-cooking-and-nutrition-course/52300 Southern California burger chain Slater’s 50/50 has spent the past couple years making a name for itself through its flagship burger patty that blends 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon into a local hero of a menu item. In celebration of one the most patriotic months of the year, the 3-location chain is debuting The ‘merica burger — a patty made of 100% ground bacon topped with a slice of thick cut bacon, a sunny side up egg, a new “bacon island” dressing and a heavy slice of bacon cheddar cheese. Bacon on bacon on bacon — apparently the only way to top their 50/50 ground beef bacon blend patty is to go 100% bacon. This limited-time burger of the month for July comes on the heels of many over-the-top monthly burger concoctions from the increasingly popular restaurant. Just last month the chain featured a Pulled Pork Burger, the month before that was a Chorizo Burger, and in months prior they’ve had items like an Orange Chicken Burger, a Lamb Burger and even a Chili Cheese Frito Burger back in January of 2011. If you were the creative mind behind Slater’s burgers, what kind of burger would you have on the menu next month? Share your ideas in the comments! Elie is a product of Orange County, CA. In early 2012, his dentist diagnosed him with 8 different cavities, three of which on the same tooth, as a result of his 23-year Sour Patch Kid addiction. http://foodbeast.com/content/2012/07/05/slaters-5050-debuts-a-100-ground-bacon-burger/ http://foodbeast.com/content/2012/07/05/slaters-5050-debuts-a-100-ground-bacon-burger/ Heavy tombstone falls on, kills 4-year-old boy http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57468114/heavy-tombstone-falls-on-kills-4-year-old-boy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+%28Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com%29 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57468114/heavy-tombstone-falls-on-kills-4-year-old-boy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+%28Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com%29 Teflon? Self-cleaning ovens? Even the paper towel pales in comparison to the brilliant innovation that is this plastic colander with a trap door release that lets you easily dump its contents into a bowl after it's completely drained. Can someone get the Nobel Prize people on the phone, they're gonna want to see this. More » http://gizmodo.com/5924132/trap-door-colander-will-revolutionize-your-kitchen http://gizmodo.com/5924132/trap-door-colander-will-revolutionize-your-kitchen • Long-haul operators report 90% drop in advance bookings• West End theatres offer cut-price tickets• Exclusive restaurants have tables availableCall it the Olympic effect. From the smartest of hotels to sought-after theatre tickets to the best restaurants, the London 2012 Games are providing summer bookers with some unexpected bargains in one of the world's most expensive cities.Hotels in London are paying the price for pushing up their room rates for the Games: bookings are down by 35% after long-haul travel operators advised international visitors to go elsewhere this summer.Visitors can now secure great bargains as hotels and theatres slash prices to compensate for a slump in bookings caused by the Olympics. Rooms in central hotels can be obtained for as much as 30% below the usual rates and tickets for some West End hits are being offered at half price.Many hotels inflated the price of rooms for the summer, with some setting rates at up to three times the normal level in anticipation of demand from Olympic visitors. These inflated prices have had a devastating effect on advance bookings by long-haul tour operators, which bring visitors from countries such as the United States, Australia and Japan, who have spurned London in favour of other European capitals. A survey by the European Tour Operators' Association last November showed that advance bookings for the Olympics period were down 90% compared with last year."When the Olympics are on, normal tourists are scared away because cities are perceived as expensive and too difficult to deal with," said Tom Jenkins, executive director of the tour operators' association. "This presents consumers with a big opportunity."Hotel bookings in the capital are down 35% in July and 30% in August, according to the latest published figures from hotel room wholesaler JacTravel, which books half a million London bed nights a year. This fall in demand is translating into bargain prices. "Rates during the Games [27 July to 12 August] have recently been falling from very inflated levels," says JacTravel's director of online, Angela Skelly. "Rates after the Games are currently 15%-20% down on the same period last year."Visitors who shop around can find even bigger reductions. The three-star Tudor Court hotel in Paddington has cut the price of its 38 rooms by an average of 33% between 12 August and 9 September. A double ensuite room for two, including breakfast, is available in this period for just £81 a night.Even during the Olympics, the Tudor Court is charging only a 20% premium on top of its standard rates. "We originally increased our prices by an average of 80% for the Games," says Conan Gupta, one of the hotel's directors. "But we've had to cut them because our bookings for the Olympics period are down 50% on last year, and in August, when we'd expect to be full, it's completely dead."Hotels in even the most central locations are cutting their prices. You can stay in the four-star Hilton Metropole, a stone's throw from Madame Tussauds and Regent's Park, on a Friday and Saturday in August for £160.08 a night. In September, the identical room will cost you £238.80.The cost of seeing a London show in July and August has also fallen, as theatre seat bookings have slumped by 20% or more, according to Chris Ryan, director of marketing for Encore Tickets, which sells two million West End theatre tickets a year. Blockbuster shows such as Billy Elliot and Shrek The Musical are being heavily discounted."These shows would not normally offer any reductions during the summer, but 700 to 800 tickets to Billy Elliot are being offered each night Monday to Friday until 9 September at discounts of between 32% and 35%," Ryan says.The cheapest seats for Shrek the Musical are being discounted by 16%, while the most expensive tickets are available at a third off normal prices.However, the biggest reductions are for shows that would attract some discount over the summer in any event. Tickets for The 39 Steps, for instance, are being offered from just £12.50, half the usual price, and the long-running Chicago is offering discounts throughout the summer of up to 40%."There is more availability because people are avoiding the Olympics," says Francis Hellyer, managing director of Londontheatredirect.com, another booking agency, which also reports sales down by about a fifth. "We have around a third more offers than last year."Meanwhile, some of London's most exclusive restaurants, which are frequently booked up way in advance, have plenty of availability during and after the games. Celebrity hangout Le Caprice has tables for dinner available on Thursday and Friday evenings throughout late July and all of August, while Gordon Ramsay's Claridge's restaurant is available for most sittings any day of the week. There are even tables to be had at Heston Blumenthal's hugely popular Dinner."Bookings are definitely quieter for Le Caprice for August compared with last year," says Jesus Adorno, a director of Caprice Holdings. "A lot of our customers go away during August and road closures around us for the Olympics are putting some regulars off as well."LondonOlympic Games 2012Consumer affairsHotelsWest EndTheatreRestaurantsFood & drinkguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/07/olympics-london-hotels-slash-prices http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/07/olympics-london-hotels-slash-prices Family releases photo of Utah boy pretending to be a leprechaun just moments before his death http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/07/utah-boy-4-dies-after-6-foot-tall-tombstone-falls-on-him/ http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/07/utah-boy-4-dies-after-6-foot-tall-tombstone-falls-on-him/ Family releases photo of Utah boy pretending to be a leprechaun just moments before his death http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/07/utah-boy-4-dies-after-6-foot-tall-tombstone-falls-on-him/ http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/07/utah-boy-4-dies-after-6-foot-tall-tombstone-falls-on-him/ Until the end of this week, we’re sharing “audition” pieces from folks interested in being new staff writers at Get Rich Slowly. Your job is to let us know what you think of each of these writers. Pay attention, give feedback, and after a couple of weeks we’ll ask which writers you prefer. This article is from long-time GRS reader Sarah Greesonbach. Her first audition piece was about surviving student loans. Here at GRS, we’ve briefly covered different daily tasks that are cheaper to do yourself, but sometimes the frugal-minded want some dollars and cents to tie to these decisions. Today, I’m going to take a look inside the heart of the frugal home, the kitchen, and at a few delicious staples for the average foodie. I’m going to compare prices for making food yourself versus buying it in the store. Unless otherwise noted, these average prices were retrieved from the website of Vons, a West-Coast grocery chain, so prices may vary in your part of the world! Which is Cheaper: Homemade or Store Bought Bread? For those of us raised on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made of thin, white, butter bread, discovering the world of thick, crusty baguettes and pungent ryes might have been something of a life-changing experience. Since there are literally hundreds of different types of bread, both to buy and to make, our recipe is for your average simple yeasted white bread. It also does not take into account extra purchases like bread-making machines that might lessen the time burden but increase the base cost. The Common Shopper: Store Bought Loaf Safeway Butter Top Wheat Bread 22 Oz – $1.99 Natures Own 12 Whole Grain Bread 24 Oz – $4.99 Open Nature 100% Whole Wheat Bread 24 Oz – $1.99 The Alternative: Homemade Bread Milk 2 Oz – $.16 Butter 2 Oz – $.48 Sugar 1 Oz – $.07 Flour 24oz – $1.44 Salt ½ Oz – $.02 Dry Yeast – $2.19 Total cost approximate 28oz – $4.36 Which is Cheaper? Winner: Store Bought! Though as you can see, the price ranges on bread are wild. Your bakery might have better specials, so price it for yourself and gauge the final cost according to how much free time you like spending in the kitchen. If you have a few hours and some yeast on hand, make yourself some delicious cheap bread. I guarantee it will improve your sandwiches! Which is Cheaper: Homemade or Store Bought Yogurt Yogurt is an incredibly versatile food that is palate pleasing for breakfast, a snack, and –in a pinch—a creamy sour cream replacement that can do wonders on tacos and in mashed potatoes in its unsweetened plain form. So imagine how exciting it would be to be able to make gallons of it at a time that, in its cultured state, will last for weeks in the fridge. Yum! The Common Shopper: Store Bought Yogurt Dannon Light N Fit Vanilla Yogurt 32 Oz – $4.99 Chobani Greek Yogurt Plain 2% Fat 32 Oz – $5.99 Mountain High Plain Yogurt 32 Oz – $4.19 The Alternative: Homemade Yogurt Milk 32 Oz – $2.49 Starter Yogurt 6 Oz – $.80 Total cost 32 Oz – $3.29 Which is Cheaper? Winner: Homemade Yogurt, especially if you consider the ease at which you can double or quadruple your recipe without an extensive cost increase. If yogurt is a snack or breakfast staple, you can greatly reduce your costs by preparing it at home by the gallon. Find a recipe that works for you and get cookin’! Which is Cheaper: Scratch Cake or Store Bought Cake Queen of birthday parties and weddings, the traditional cake might not be a daily or weekly treat, but for the sake of your emotional happiness you might want to incorporate one into your diet at least quarterly. For the purpose of keeping it simple, our homemade scratch cake is a simple white cake with white icing. The Common Shopper: Store Bought Bakery Cake 8 Inch, 2 Layer White Cake – $15.99 8 Inch, 2 Layer Carrot Cake – $9.99 The Alternative: Homemade Scratch Cake The Cake: Sugar 8 Oz – $.56 Butter 4 Oz – $.96 Eggs 2 – $.55 Vanilla Extract ½ Oz –$1.43 Flour 12 Oz – $.72 Baking Powder ¼ Oz – $.06 Milk 4 Oz – $.32 The Icing: Butter 8 Oz: $1.92 Powdered Sugar 32 Oz: $2.79 Total cost 12 Oz – $9.31 Which is Cheaper? Winner: Scratch cake! But even without doing the math, I think we all know the cheapest method of all: boxed cake mix. That said, if you like control of the ingredients and want to get a lot of compliments, making a cake from scratch might be the way to go. Which is Cheaper: Homemade or Store Bought Granola The basics of granola are simple, but the magic that happens when combined in a bowl with milk or yogurt is far from ordinary. So, you’d think that lightly-sweetened baked oats plus combination of fruit or nuts would be the cheapest thing around, right? Read on! The Common Shopper: Store Bought Granola Bear Naked Fruit And Nut All Natural Granola 12 Oz – $3.99 Open Nature Granola Cranberry Nut Goodness 12 Oz – $3.00 Cascadian Farm Organic Granola Fruit And Nut 13.5 Oz- $3.99 The Alternative: Homemade Granola Honey 2 Oz – $.41 Coconut Oil 1 Oz – $.74 Vanilla Extract ¼ Oz – $.72 Dried Apricot (Fruit) 2 Oz – $1.26 Butter 1 Oz – $.24 Quaker Oatmeal 10 Oz – $1.30 Total cost 13 Oz – $4.67 Which is Cheaper? As you can see, a batch of homemade granola falls right within the range of purchasing it in the stores. But much like yogurt, it is easy to exponentially increase the prepared granola, especially if you have a simple homemade granola recipe to follow. This one is a coin-toss. Final Thoughts You can tweak any recipe to be cheaper or more expensive depending on where you source your ingredients, but if cooking is not a fun recreational experience for you, you might also factor in how much money your time is worth. Overall, it would appear that store bought food is right on trend with the cost of homemade preparation. But if you take it a step further and take into account production costs, packaging, and advertising, it becomes clear that the cost of the food in the package does not go right into the food itself. Homemade food items have the benefit of being fresher, (usually) more delicious, and full of ingredients you know and love. The choice is yours in the kitchen: homemade or pre-made, and especially if you use items that are on sale, both appear to be frugal options. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/07/07/which-is-cheaper-in-the-kitchen/ http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/07/07/which-is-cheaper-in-the-kitchen/ Classic Wimbledon drinks and dishes to enjoy during the tennis finals. Take a virtual road trip to learn more about America's regional food atlas. July's must haves offer six delicious indulgences to enjoy this Summer. Mario Batali shared what he's craving this Summer. Learn more about the diverse, iconic American foods that make up the 50 states. Oreo has teamed up with Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts. http://www.yumsugar.com/What-Eat-Wimbledon-Party-23880731 http://www.yumsugar.com/What-Eat-Wimbledon-Party-23880731 This is a soup made for summer, fresh and bright. Compared to many corn chowders that can be a bit on the heavy side with cream and bacon, this chowder is rather light. It gets its body from Yukon gold potatoes and fresh corn. The cool thing about this soup is the way the soup base is made—after you strip the kernels from the cobs, you just simmer the cobs for half an hour. You could use this method for any corn or vegetable soup for which you wanted a stronger corn flavor. I love the way tarragon pairs with corn, to me its a perfect taste complement. But if tarragon isn't your thing, you might try it with basil or thyme. In that case just swap out the fennel for more onions and potatoes. Continue reading "Tarragon Corn Chowder" » http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tarragon_corn_chowder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+elise%2Fsimplyrecipes+%28Simply+Recipes%29 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tarragon_corn_chowder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+elise%2Fsimplyrecipes+%28Simply+Recipes%29 We’ve all been there. After slaving away over a sticky cutting board, cutting pear after strawberry after apple, the fruit salad of our dreams is left with the dregs of cantaloupe and honeydew stranded in the bowl, never to grace a plate. Each fruit was squeezed and sized up in the grocery store, sure, but the typical fruit salad is rather uniform and expected. We know what it’s going to taste like before we even load up our plates. At the same time, the proverbial fruit salad is a mainstay at summer barbecues. In between bites of burger, chips and potato salad, guests are yearning for something more refreshing, something that will lift them up after such a heavy meal. When making a summery, naturally sweet fruit salad, it’s important to realize that an addition of something that’s not, well, fruit can make all the difference, bringing some thought into a simple dish. Fruit salad is an incredibly versatile culinary concoction, and adding a sprig of mint, a shot of honey or any other uplifting ingredient can bring the standard fruit salad from half-eaten to devoured, healthful bliss. And when your guests opt for the fruit over the triple-chocolate-chunk-deluxe brownies , it won’t necessarily be because it’s the healthier option. It’ll be because it’s the most delicious, most refreshing option. Even if you’re not throwing a party anytime soon, a homemade in-season fruit salad is perfect in a lunchbox, in the fridge or on the side at dinner. This summer, be sure to take advantage of use in-season fruits like watermelon, peaches, blueberries and strawberries. Start out with this Watermelon Salad from Food Network Magazine (above) and incorporate lemon and mint into your next fruity mix. Then, move on to other concoctions by adding in ingredients like honey, coconut and even wine. Stand-Out Fruit Salads with a Twist: Mixed Berries With Limoncello Fresh Fruit Salad With Honey Vanilla Yogurt Pineapple-Citrus Salad With Coconut Fresh Fruit and Mint Salad Radiance Fruit Salad Summer Fruit With Wine and Mint Fruit Salad http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2012/07/06/unforgettable-fruit-salads/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+healthyeats+%28Healthy+Eats%29 http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2012/07/06/unforgettable-fruit-salads/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+healthyeats+%28Healthy+Eats%29 Readers' favourite photographs, songs and recipesSnapshot: Our hero, my great-grandfatherThis is a photograph of my great-grandfather, Petty Officer Stoker Edward Attwood. My family never knew much about him because he was one of the first men killed at the Battle of Dogger Bank in the North Sea on 24 January 1915, not long after this photograph was taken. He was 32. But afterwards he was often talked about on Christmas Day – his birthday.By the time I was born in the 1960s, my grandmother was the only person who had a personal memory of him; he was killed the month before her fifth birthday. She would often tell me that he had once collected her from the small Holy Apostles school in Charlton Kings, the village where they lived in Gloucestershire. Her father was wearing his naval uniform and it had started to rain. She ran towards him and he scooped her up as she ran out through the gates and tucked her inside his greatcoat, then carried her home. If you were to be left with just one memory of a father, this would rank among the best.A copy of this photograph hangs on my office wall and visitors often ask about it. Edward had served his 12 years in the Royal Navy and left the service in February 1914. He was a Royal Fleet Reservist when recalled at the outbreak of war. His cap bears his ship's name, HMS Vivid IV, which he joined on 2 August 1914 before a transfer to HMS Meteor on 1 December.The German fleet, which had previously bombarded towns on England's east coast, had just left port to embark on another attack when radio signals revealed their intentions. The British force was immediately ordered to sea and intercepted the enemy at Dogger Bank. No British ships were lost, but despite the German ship Blücher being badly wounded, she managed to fire on HMS Meteor as she manoeuvred to fire a torpedo. A shell landed in the No 1 boiler room and my great-grandfather was killed.Now my children, too, have learned the stories behind the photograph; the warmth of my grandmother's only memory of her father, the dangers of "a wounded animal" still capable of attack, the nature of luck and the seeming randomness of war.Neil WardPlaylist: Ella Fitzgerald, my top house guestThere's a Small Hotel by Ella Fitzgerald "I'd like to get away, Junior / Somewhere alone with you / It could be oh so gay, Junior / You need a laugh or two"I am a big fan of Ella Fitzgerald; my daughter is named after her, and (look away now if you are squeamish) I listened to her music while I was in the birthing suite.There's a Small Hotel isn't one of Fitzgerald's most popular songs; it lacks the dark edge that give her best performances depth and it is syrupy, twee even. But I have a strong emotional connection with this, more than any other in her vast back catalogue.When I was little, I would complain loudly, from the back seat of my grandad's Vauxhall Cavalier whenever he subjected me to Radio 2's particular brand of easy listening. While I yearned for the latest pop hits by Madonna or Boy George, he would lose himself in the big band music of his youth.There's a Small Hotel was his favourite tune. With Ella on the record player, the living room was transformed into a 1940s dancefloor, and he would glide around, crooning the chorus, while I stood on his toes, barely tall enough to cling on.As I grew older, my musical tastes broadened, but still we failed to connect. Grandad smiled politely through several Christmases of Rat Pack compilations and Sinatra standards, discreetly tucking the CDs away at the back of the shelf. I'll always regret that I came to the genre, to Ella and Nina, Billie and the rest, too late to share it with him.So I fill my house with Ella Fitzgerald – I named my daughter in memory of her and my grandad – and whenever I hear this song I picture Grandad, transported back to the dance hall, gliding around the living room, arms outstretched, dancing, alone and smiling. Katy StoddardWe love to eat: Spicy Australian flapjacksIngredients200g porridge oats50g light brown sugar50g nuts (almonds, pecans and walnuts, chopped)50g dried apricots or dried plums (cut up small)50g wholemeal flour1 tsp ground ginger1 tsp ground cinnamon1 pinch (or more) chilli flakesTo this dry mix, add:120ml light olive oil15 dates (pitted) soaked for 15 minutes in one cup of water, then liquidisedMix well, then press down firmly in a lined pan 34cm x 20cm x 3cm. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 200C/gas mark 6, checking after 15 minutes to ensure it is not burning. Cool, then cut into squares.I was taught to make these flapjacks by my grandmother. Her best friend, Lissa, is Australian and a very good cook. When she visited us last year, she gave us the recipe, telling us they are called Anzac nutties or Anzac kisses in Western Australia. They are baked and eaten on Anzac Day.However, we found them a bit dull so my grandma and I decided to adapt the recipe to our liking. We tried to spice them up a bit by adding ginger, chilli and cinnamon. Then we put in dried fruit and nuts, but we had a problem.After baking our flapjacks, we found they would not hold together. So we begged, borrowed and stole ideas from friends, Another Australian friend, Merryn, suggested using liquidised dates. So we tried and it worked perfectly. At last we have a fruit and nut bar that holds well, is nutritious, delicious and easy to make, can be frozen and is perfect for school lunchboxes and picnics.I made these flapjacks for my mum's birthday and she really enjoyed them.Alfie White, aged 12We'd love to hear your storiesWe will pay £25 for every Letter to, Playlist, Snapshot or We love to eat we publish. Write to Family Life, The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU or email family@guardian.co.uk. Please include your address and phone numberFamilyPhotographyFood & drinkguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/07/readers-favourite-photographs-songs-recipes http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/07/readers-favourite-photographs-songs-recipes The C.D.C. advises that children sit in the back seat until age 13. One look at any middle school drop-off will show that most of us aren't following that advice. Are you? http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/when-can-a-child-ride-in-the-front-seat/ http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/when-can-a-child-ride-in-the-front-seat/ Health experts offer tips for navigating the cereal aisle and finding the most nutritious -- and tastiest -- options among the fruity flakes and fiber twigs. http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/06/health/time-healthy-breakfast-cereal/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29 http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/06/health/time-healthy-breakfast-cereal/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29 Here are two words for those who make sport out of bashing federal employees. Nick Hall. In the ultimate demonstration of public service, Hall, a National Park Service climbing ranger, died on Mount Rainier in Washington state last month while rescuing others. A memorial service will be held Friday in Patten, Maine, his home town. Read full article >> http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hero-park-ranger-dies-saving-others/2012/07/05/gJQA7DLRQW_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hero-park-ranger-dies-saving-others/2012/07/05/gJQA7DLRQW_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage You’ve seen t-shirts that read “I ♥ bacon” and bumper stickers that celebrate cheese. But have you ever encountered a cellphone charm that glorifies the tomato? We’ve found 14 charms that literally look scrumptious enough to eat. And when we say “literally,” we mean it. You won’t be able to tell the difference between these accessories and real food — except when you consider their size. (A slice of pizza doesn’t usually measure an inch, thank goodness.) SEE ALSO: 10 Adorable Charms for Your Headphone Jack Flip through the gallery above, but don’t blame us when your mouth starts watering. What food would you most want to carry on a cellphone charm? Tell us in the comments. http://mashable.com/2012/07/06/phone-charms-food/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 http://mashable.com/2012/07/06/phone-charms-food/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 If you don't feel like firing up the grill, you can still make delicious, thick-cut steaks by cooking them in the oven then finishing in the pan. This method from Cook's Illustrated, via Cookography, results in a beautiful crust but tender pink center. Most oven-cooking methods, including one we've mentioned previously, involve searing the steak in a pan first, then finishing it in the oven (a method for cooking steak when it's frozen also uses the sear-then-put-in-oven technique). This new method reverses the process and has these benefits, according to Cookography: Instead of finishing the steaks in the oven, you start out cooking them in the oven. This allows you to raise the internal temperature of the meat more even. I think when the steaks were put in the oven after cooking the exteriors were already much hotter and lead to a more uneven cooking as the center got up to temperature. Cooking the steaks in the oven first also dries out the exterior of the meat, allowing for the perfect crust when you sear it later. When you sear the steak first, it is much tougher to get the perfect crust because the steaks are releasing more moisture. Cook's Illustrated says (membership required) that this method avoids that gray band of meat directly under the crust. The method is similar to cooking perfect thick steaks on the grill: start at a low heat then finish over high heat to sear. Definitely worth a try if you want steak house-quality thick steaks at home (don't forget our other #steak tips while you're at it). Pan Seared, Thick Cut Steak | Cookography http://lifehacker.com/5923943/a-foolproof-way-to-cook-thick-steaks-start-in-the-oven-then-sear-in-a-pan http://lifehacker.com/5923943/a-foolproof-way-to-cook-thick-steaks-start-in-the-oven-then-sear-in-a-pan Eight years after he was convicted for the murders of his wife and unborn son, Scott Peterson has appealed his death sentence to the California Supreme Court. His attorney Cliff Gardner filed the 423-page appeal on Thursday, the Modesto Bee reported. The former fertilizer salesman was convicted of suffocating his wife, Laci, and dumping her in San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve 2002. He is now claiming that the overwhelming publicity of the case, incorrect evidentiary rulings and other mistakes deprived him of a fair trial His 2004 conviction came at the end of one of the most watched trials in modern times. Peterson has maintained that Laci was killed sometime after he left their Modesto home the morning of Dec. 24, 2002, to go fishing in San Francisco Bay. His attorneys say prosecutors never showed how, where and when he did the killings. In order to reduce the influence of publicity on the jury, the trial was moved from Stanislaus County to San Mateo County. "Before hearing even a single witness, nearly half of all prospective jurors admitted they had already decided Mr. Peterson was guilty of capital murder," Gardner argues. One radio radio station posted a large billboard outside the courthouse with a telephone number for people to call in and vote on whether Peterson was a "man or monster." It is standard practice for death penalty cases to be appealed to the California Supreme Court. ALSO: Computer glitch blamed for San Diego fireworks bust Katie Holmes wants Tom Cruise divorce details kept private Inspector shot in head by alleged hoarder expected to survive -- Richard Winton twitter.com/lacrimes Photo: Scott Peterson, center, during his murder trial in 2004. Credit: Al Golub / Associated Press http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/07/scott-peterson-appeal-death-row-supreme-court.html http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/07/scott-peterson-appeal-death-row-supreme-court.html Too Young for a Bikini Wax? New ad promotes bikini wax for young teen girls. Michigan Woman Battles Flesh-Eating Bacteria Crystal Spencer, 33, has been given a 20 to 30 percent chance of survival. Girl suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis, CIPA. To Spank or Not to Spank? To Spank or Not to Spank? A controversial video has sparked debate among parents. Ice Cream Brain Freeze: What Causes It? Ice Cream Brain Freeze: What Causes It? Lindsey Davis takes a look at what causes headaches when eating something cold. Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Aimee Copeland Leaves Hospital After two months struggling to beat the bacteria, Copeland is in a rehabilitation. Grandma Murder Trial: 911 Call Grandmother claims self-defense in death of her grandson. PSA Urges Abused Women to Speak Up YouTube makeup artist Lauren Luke conceals cuts and bruises in domestic violence PSA. 13 Ways to Boost Workplace Energy Becky Worley, Liz Vaccariello reveal secret with some help from Reader's Digest. Weight Loss With Coffee, Balloons and Ice Baths? The OMG diet makes waves online despite having little science behind it. Texas Student Chimp Attack: A Look Inside Sanctuary An exclusive look at the chimpanzee sanctuary where Andrew Oberle was attacked. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/elvis-impersonator-hunka-hoarder-16706875 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/elvis-impersonator-hunka-hoarder-16706875 Grilling meat already makes it instantly delicious, but if you're looking for a way to add even more flavor to your grilled steaks, chops, and chicken, reach for a big bunch of fresh herbs. Bundle them up with a little twine, and you have a flavorful basting brush that will impart some flavor to your meat while you oil it down or brush it with a light barbecue sauce. More » http://lifehacker.com/5923874/turn-a-bundle-of-fresh-herbs-into-a-basting-brush-for-the-grill http://lifehacker.com/5923874/turn-a-bundle-of-fresh-herbs-into-a-basting-brush-for-the-grill Washington and Wisconsin are joining 24 other states that have earned waivers from the federal education law. Washington state education officials confirmed their state’s waiver. The Wisconsin waiver was reported by The New York Times. The waivers are considered a temporary measure while Education Secretary Arne Duncan continues to work with Congress to rewrite the law. Washington state schools chief Randy Dorn says the waiver will lift the requirement that all students pass both the state reading and math tests by 2014. In return, Washington will need to show improvement in test scores for subgroups of students who have historically had lower scores than average. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-state-wisconsin-win-waivers-from-requirements-of-us-no-child-left-behind-law/2012/07/06/gJQAf0m0QW_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-state-wisconsin-win-waivers-from-requirements-of-us-no-child-left-behind-law/2012/07/06/gJQAf0m0QW_story.html http://snip.it/collections/10818-Security-Alert?highlight=208270&ref=external http://snip.it/collections/10818-Security-Alert?highlight=208270&ref=external